Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Temple Grandin

If you have not watched the movie Temple Grandin on HBO you need to check it out.  I watched the Grammy's and was so surprised to see that the movie was nominated and thrilled to have it win 7 awards. I was doubly surprised to see that she was in the audience and then on stage. She did not wear a designer dress but was dressed like she was ready to ride the range.  I was so happy for her it brought tears to my eyes.

Temple Grandin is a professor at Colorado State University (CSU) in Ft. Collins.  Her story is remarkable because as a young child she did not speak until she was four and the doctors recommended that she be institutionalized, advice her mother fortunately did not take.  She was not diagnosed with autism until she was older. She has worked hard all her life to get an education (she has a PHD) and to be accepted into a field that was dominated by men. What an incredible inspiration to autistic adults and to the parents with autistic children.

When I was in Portland I needed a book and after looking through Megan's bookshelves choose Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison. This is a story about a man with a similar success story-diagnosed later in life with Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism.  If you are interested I am sure Megan will loan you the book.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Dylan

Dylan ponders coming down the slide

He loves to play in the sand

Pretend painting with water in the Secret Garden

Looking over his work

I love to walk over to Lyons park with Dylan. There is a special park for children with water, sand, and lots of plants. I tried very hard to take a picture of him looking at the camera but with the delay click on my camera and Dylan wanting to focus on sand and water I was not successful.  He has the most beautiful blue eyes and sweet face--I need Christie and Rachele and Amber here with their great cameras to help me out.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Portland

Avery in her princess dress
                                               
Henry, Josie, and Avery at lunch
                                             
Avery and Nain
                                                   
Avery is an excellent golfer
                                                
Bubbles
                                            
Lots of bubbles
                                        
Nolan really wanted to play in the bubble solution
                                      
Another lunch photo
                                                       
Avery the ballerina
                                                
 It has been a beautiful week in Portland. Avery loves the princess dress I bought on sale at Princess Paradise in Ft Collins.  She loves to dress up and pretend.

Thanks to Julie (who gave me the bubble wands) we had a great time at the Gorsegner's BBQ blowing really big bubbles.

Megan, Avery and I had a great time playing miniature golf. Avery was very persistent and was determined to get the ball in the hole using her club (not her hand). 

AND--Megan has spent hours with me on my new laptop making sure it is set up correctly and that I understand most of it.